A Long December (42 page)
Authors: Donald Harstad
Even so, the suit dragged on for three more months, as the attorneys for the plaintiffs ran up the bill. I hope the “families” of the dead men could afford it.
Oh, and just for the record, I’ve never regretted shooting them for an instant. I went through a short period of time wondering what was wrong with me because I felt no remorse at all. Then I decided that I’d just done what needed to be done. Works for me.
My shot into Odeh’s lower leg was also ruled justified. There was no suit over that one.
The only upside to being involved in a police shooting, I discovered, was that I didn’t have to do the damned investigation. That alone probably saved me six months’ work.
All things considered, we came through this case pretty well. Hester has a permanent dimple in her cheek that the plastic surgeons couldn’t quite erase. It really doesn’t detract from her appearance at all. She still has Big Ears with her. She brings him along sometimes when she has a case in Nation County. Sally and the rest of the dispatchers go nuts when they see that dog.
Hector is still in Battenberg, pretty much in control of the world he inhabits. He still informs for me, when he thinks justice should be done and I seem to be lagging a bit behind. I’m pretty sure he’s doing the same thing for the FBI. I hope they treat him right. He’s a good man.
Our intrepid county attorney Carson Hilgenberg has already started to campaign for office. His bumper sticker reads
PROVEN TOUGH ON TERRORISM
. Honest. He’s unopposed, naturally.
Lamar says he’s going to retire. I’ll believe it when I see it. As for me, I think I’ll stick around for a while.
I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE
invaluable assistance of the following people in the preparations for this novel:
Richard F. Fiester, MD, F.A.C.P., who conducted an exceptionally interesting autopsy; Ellen M. Gordon, Administrator, Iowa Homeland Security, who provided very helpful information regarding emergency responses; Kevin Techau, Iowa Commissioner of Public Safety, who provided invaluable contact assistance; Penny Westphal, the Director of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, who very kindly permitted me to interview some members of a basic class; and Officer Jo Amsden, Monona Police Department, who provided considerable insight into at least two characters in this book.
I would like to especially thank Jennifer Clarke, ATF-NRT, SACES, for her exceptionally valuable insights and encouragement.
Another special thanks to former KGAN Iowa City Anchor Anne Ewald Dill, and KGAN cameraman Pete MacNaugton, who were kind enough to allow me to ride along as they covered stories in and around Iowa City. It was an impressive experience for me.
Don Harstad is the author of
Eleven Days
,
The Known Dead, The Big Thaw
and
Code 61
.
A former deputy sheriff and twenty-seven-year
veteran of the Clayton County Sheriff’s
Department, he lives in Elkader, Iowa.
Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.
A big thanks to Rebecca and J. David Hood, whose advice and information on selected procurements and specifications proved invaluable.
I want to thank Melissa Addington, RN for taking the time from her busy schedule to explain not only nursing and emergency room procedures and techniques, but her personal and emotional reactions as well. She, too, provided insights into more than one character in this novel.
Ann Bahls was also a great help in understanding several points of view that were new to this story.
Dianne Strudhoff deserves thanks for insightful information into the experience of multicultural existence in rural Iowa.
I must always thank the law enforcement personnel of Iowa, especially in the northeastern area of the State, for continuing their excellent work.
Eleven Days
The Known Dead
The Big Thaw
Code 61
Harper Perennial
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This edition published by Harper Perennial 2004
1
First published in Great Britain by Fourth Estate 2003
Copyright © Donald Harstad 2003
Donald Harstad asserts the moral right to
be identified as the author of this work
A catalogue record for this book is
available from the British Library
This novel is entirely a work of fiction.
The names, characters and incidents portrayed
in it are the work of the author’s imagination.
Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead,
events or localities is entirely coincidental.
ISBN1 84115 548 9
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EPub Edition © OCTOBER 2010 ISBN: 978-0-007-40203-8
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